Beverage coaster



May 6, 1958 c, JOHNSQN 2,833,437

BEVERAGE COASTER Filed Dec. 26, 1956 INVENTOR Charles R. Johnson UnitedStates Patent 2,833,437 BEVERAGE CBASTER Charles R. Johnson, SanAntonio, Tex. Application December 26, 1956, Serial No. 630,655 4Claims. (Cl. 215-1005) adapted to engage the sides of the blass orbottle and which are connected to the absorbent base member.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a beverage coaster bearingthe above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimumnumber of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efiicient in use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention shown alone;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View in exploded relationship of the partscomprising the invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1,and showing in dotted outline the position of the glass on the coaster;and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the central portion ofthe coaster.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, represents a circularresilient wire, the ends of which are slightly spaced apart (Fig. 4) andare integrally formed with the inwardly and upwardly extending straightportions 11 which diverge upwardly away from each other. The upper endsof the portions 11 are each integrally formed with the oppositelydisposed complementary wire jaws 12 which represent segments of anellipse and which are closer together than the outside diameter of thedrinking glass 13 at the point at which they engage the same, so as toinsure resilient tensional engagement therebetween.

A pair of upper and lower absorbent discs 13 and 14 of slightly greaterdiameter than the diameter of the base wire 10 are suitably securedthereto, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The diameter of the absorbent discs13' and 14 is also slightly greater than the bottom of the bottle orbeverage glass 13 which rests thereon. Thus, the wire base 10 serves asa stiffening member for the vertically spaced absorbent discs 13 and 14and also serves to connect the same fixedly to the clamps 12 whichengage the glass.

The wire portion 10, 11, 12 of the invention may be formed of resilientmetal, plastic or other substance having similar physicalcharacteristics and the jaw portions 12 may be covered with rubber toincrease their frictional properties.

The peripheries of the absorbent discs 13 and 14 extend outwardly beyondthe wire base 10 sufiiciently to permit them to be secured together bymeans of the stitching 15 or other suitable securing means, for exampleglue.

The spring tension of the expanded jaws 12 will retain ice y the coasteron the glass or bottle 13 until it is desired to remove the same, andwill prevent it from becoming separated therefrom.

As shown in Fig. 3, the free ends of the base ring Il are bent outwardlyand upwardly in the curved portion 16 before joining the straightportions 11, to provide clearance for the peripheral edge of theuppermost absorbent disc 13', as will be obvious. The straight portions12 are bent inwardly sufiiciently so that their upper ends are alignedvertically with the free ends of the base ring 10. This constructionprevents the bottom rim of the glass or container from being placedsomewhat off the coaster pad. It will be noted that the jaws 12 are ovalrather than round in shape so that all size glasses or containers willcenter themselves on the pads 13, 14. Were the jaws round, they wouldcause a small glass or container to abut the straight portions 11,thereby leaving the glass or container off center prom the pad.

The flexible pads 13' and 14 may be designed so that they may be removedfrom the base 10 for cleaning. For

example, they may be made as inserts of circular shape having a recessedperipheral groove around the center of the edge of the periphery of thepad which would receive the base ring therewithin in resilientengagement. Such a case, a unitary pad would be provided and could besnapped into and out of engagement with the base wire 10. The lips ofthe pad override the rim of the coaster base 10 on top and bottom, whichkeeps the pad in place. The pads may he designed from sponge rubber,cellular material or other absorbent materials.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A beverage coaster comprising a circular wire of resilient materialhaving the free ends thereof slightly spaced apart, said free ends beingintegrally formed with upwardly and inwardly extending portions, each ofsaid upwardly and inwardly extending portions at the upper ends thereofbeing integrally formed with an oval shaped wire jaw extending forwardlythereof adapted to engage one side of the glass or the like andproviding a pair of oppositely disposed complementary engaging jaws,absorbent pad means of substantially circular shape and of greaterdiameter than said circular wire, and means for securing said absorbentpad means to said circular wire whereby to retain the absorbent padmeans in engagement with the bottom of the glass or the like by theresilient engagement therewith of said resilient jaws thereabove.

2. A beverage coaster according to claim 1, said absorbent pad meanscomprising substantially circular upper and lower pads of greaterdiameter than the wire base and positioned on the upper and lower sidesthereof, and means for securing said upper and lower pads togetheraround their peripheries with the wire base therebetween.

3. A beverage coaster according to claim 1, said absorbent pad meanscomprising a unitary flexible circular pad of greater diameter than saidwire base, said pad around tis periphery having an annular groovereceiving said circular base wire resiliently therewithin, whereby topermit the removal of the pad for cleaning.

4. A beverage coaster according to claim 1, said base wire being bentoutwardly and upwardly before joining said inwardly and upwardlyextending portions to provide clearance for the periphery of theabsorbent pad means.

2,632,320 Liss Mar. 24, 1953

